Mordekaiser vs Swain

Mordekaiser
vs
51.5%

over 130 games

Swain

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Swain

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Mordekaiser: Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Riftmaker, Spirit Visage, Mercury's Treads, Liandry's Torment, Oblivion Orb, Experimental Hexplate, Thornmail.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Rylai's Crystal Scepter
1
Riftmaker
2
Spirit Visage
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Liandry's Torment
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot85%
FlashTeleport10%

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Oblivion Orb
Experimental Hexplate
Thornmail
Bramble Vest
Dusk and Dawn
Randuin's Omen
Zhonya's Hourglass
Hextech Rocketbelt
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Morellonomicon
Dark Seal
Force of Nature
Bloodletter's Curse
Seeker's Armguard
53.3% WR15 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
RevitalizeRevitalize
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Swain's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Ravenous Flock (P)

Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s20s12s–
65s20s12s2m
93s19s12s2m
113s18s12s2m
163s16s11s2m
183s16s10s2m

Playing as Mordekaiser

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Hit a lone enemy with your Q

    Aim Obliterate (Q) at a lone enemy: if only one enemy is hit, the damage increases.

  2. Activate your passive, then stay close

    Hit champions or monsters three times, then stay close: Darkness Rise (passive) then surrounds you with a damage aura and gives you move speed.

  3. Pull them into your Q

    Pull your targets into the Obliterate (Q) zone with Death's Grasp (E): each spell that hits also counts toward Darkness Rise (passive).

  4. Tank with Indestructible

    Cast Indestructible (W) when you're taking damage: it turns stored damage into a shield, and a recast converts part of it into health.

  5. Isolate the carry in your R

    Cast Realm of Death (R) on their carry, or their jungler near an objective: you isolate them with you, steal part of their stats, and keep them if you kill them.

Playing against Swain

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge Nevermove on its return

    Get out of the Nevermove (E) path as it comes back: it only roots on its return to Swain, then he can pull each rooted champion to him.

  2. Leave the area of his eye

    Leave the area as soon as Vision of Empire (W) appears: it strikes and slows 1.5 seconds later, and each champion hit gives him a Soul Fragment.

  3. Keep your distance during his ult

    During Demonic Ascension (R), back off and hit from range if you can: he only drains nearby enemies, and his form ends when he stops draining.

  4. Cut his healing during his ult

    If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it during Demonic Ascension (R): the drain heals him every second, and that healing keeps him alive.

Patch 16.21.1